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NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL SERVICES
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT
ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE
To review, initiate and enhance social services programs focused on assisting clients to become self-sufficient. To implement goals and strategies from the NCACDSS Strategic Plan as appropriate to the Committee’s Scope of Work or as assigned by the President.
The NCACDSS Employment Programs Committee met eight (8) of the past ten (10) months in FY 2002-2003. Attendance at Committee meetings has averaged seventeen (10 members and 7 guests). An average of three (3) DSS Directors have attended Committee meetings.
Primary support to the Committee from the Division of Social Services Economic Independence Section has been from Wilbert Morris, former Chief of the EI Section. Other Division staff who have provided Committee support were: Kathy McGehee; Joyce Avent; Carl Breazeale; Deborah Landry; Suzanne Marshall; David Prince; and Jane Schwartz.
ISSUES
Among the issues discussed this year by the Committee are the following:
1. Work First Caseload: Between July and April the Work First caseload in North Carolina decreased from 41,845 to 41,210. This represents a 1.5% decrease. The April caseload is the lowest since Work First was implemented. The Child Only caseload represents 53% of the total Work First caseload in North Carolina . The percent of the caseload comprised of Child Only cases is increasing.
To date the 2-year Work First time limit has been reached by very few participants. The 5-year lifetime limit on TANF benefits allows for 20% of the caseload to receive exemptions. In North Carolina less than 2% of the caseload has received assistance beyond 60 months.
2. Work First Applicant Survey: The Committee reviewed surveys done by County Departments of Social Services of all applicants for Work First in June and November 2002. In comparing November data to June data, the number of single-parent applications was less (3,854 to 4,191) and the number of two-parent applications was more (569 to 548). Child-Only applications were about the same (612 vs. 614). The top causal factors for applications in November were: (1) No Child Support Order/Collections - $1,833; (2) Can’t Find Job – 1,643; and (3) Job Quit/Fired – 1,214.
Another Applicant Survey will be done in June, 2003. These surveys are used to gauge statewide, regional and local trends in Work First.
3. TANF Recipients Requesting Hardship Exemptions with 60 Months of Benefits in Other States: An issue discussed with State staff and among Committee members was the problem of verifying TANF assistance in other states, and particularly the extent to which services were offered by the TANF agency in the other state and the degree of effort and cooperation by the recipient in seeking to develop job skills and find work. State staff advised counties to get the information from other state agencies to the greatest extent possible. There is no national database. There was feedback in Committee on three (3) cases. In two (2) of them the other State TANF agency had done nothing to assist the recipient in becoming self-sufficient. One (1) N.C. County DSS responded to a similar case by granting the recipient an additional three (3) months of assistance in order to assess their circumstances and needs. Note: It is important to ascertain if Federal TANF funds were included in cash assistance paid to recipients in other states.
4. State Appeals Decisions in Hardship Cases: Based upon an informal tally of Work First Hardship appeals heard by State Hearing Officers, a total of 12 cases have been heard and the following decisions were rendered: (1) 7 – in agreement with the County DSS decision; (b) 4 – No shows; and (c) 1 – Reversal of County DSS decision. There has been no data kept on Work First Hardship appeals. This data will be captured in the future.
5. Work First Position Classification Study: The Committee discussed and endorsed the Work First Position Classification Study completed a couple of years ago by DHHS Personnel. The position classifications of “Community Employment Case Manager: (Grade 65) and “Human Resources Placement Specialist” (Grade 63) were supported by the Committee. There was general agreement that counties are organized differently and that there should be maximum flexibility. The Committee felt that the new CECM position would allow these former Income Maintenance staff performing both eligibility and employment services functions to be compensated for their level of knowledge, skills and abilities, and for their level of work.
There was discussion regarding the need for a Social Worker III level position in large counties with specialized caseloads of families with significant emotional and behavioral issues, as well as significant barriers to employment and care of children. It is the understanding of Committee members that a Social Worker III position has been approved for a specialized caseload of Child-Only families in Work First, but as yet, it is not known if a Social Worker III position has been approved in a County DSS exclusively serving the most difficult Work First Employment Services cases.
6. Financial Literacy: The Committee discussed the issue of strengthening the financial literacy of Work First and all low income families through efforts such as EITC educational and outreach efforts, VITA tax preparation sites, etc. Recommendations were made to State DSS and DHHS staff regarding the need for an enhanced statewide initiative. The Committee plans to start earlier in encouraging participation by the State and County DSS ’s in 2003. Last year 600,000 low-income N.C. families received $1.1 billion thru the Federal EITC. IRS estimates that another $250 million went unclaimed.
7. Calculation of Participation Rates: The committee explored issues relating to counting of applicants in the numerator using the old “y” code in Field 52 of Form DSS-6908. Federal policies will not allow this to be done. County staff were encouraged to key in all hours of participation in the first month even if for only a portion of the month.
8. “Working vs. Welfare”: The Committee made recommendations for an update to this publication by State DSS.
TANF STATE PLAN
The Committee spent several months discussing issues and items related to the FY 2003-2005 TANF State Plan. The elimination of “Pay-After-Performance” in the State Plan was of concern to several members of the Committee. It was agreed among Committee members and State staff that Pay-After-Performance would be written into Work First policies in order to prevent a “revolving-door” of recipients terminating assistance subsequent to sanctions and then reapplying with no consequences.
The Committee recommended and the NCACDSS Executive Board approved a recommendation that the Mutual Responsibility Agreement Noncompliance Section of the State Plan be changed by deleting the statement: “Second and subsequent instances of noncompliance will result in ineligibility for three months or until compliance, whichever is longer”, and change the previous sentence in the Plan to: “ Any noncompliance will result in ineligibility for one month or until compliance”.
ABAWD FUNDING COUNTY SURVEY
The Farm Bill authorized $20 million annually to be allocated among states that agree to provide job training and work experience opportunities to “at-risk” able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDS). These are abled-bodied persons 18-50 years old in their last month of three (3)-month Food Stamp certification residing in a county subject to Food Stamp Program E&T requirements. North Carolina is considering making an application for a portion of these funds for FFY 2003-2004. A letter was sent to the 70 E&T County DSS Directors in early March to get feedback on interest in participating in the program. The program requires statewide participation. Based upon the responses from counties a decision will be made as to whether or not North Carolina will submit an application. The amount of funding is dependent upon how many other states participate. Funds are 100% Federal with no matching requirements. Responses were due from counties by April 15, 2003 .
PRESENTATIONS TO COMMITTEE
The EPC heard presentations on the following topics during the past year:
1. State Budget (Economic Independence , Work First, DSS) – Wilbert Morris & State Staff.
2. TANF Reauthorization: The House has passed a bill similar to the original Bush Plan. The Senate has not passed a bill as yet. TANF has been extended through June 30, 2003 . – Wilbert Morris & State Staff.
3. TANF Reauthorization Recommendations Regarding Transportation – Kathy McGehee, State DSS.
4. JOB ACCESS RURAL VANPOOL PROGRAM – Joe Melvin, Coordinator.
5. EITC Initiative & Tax Preparation Assistance in Forsyth County – Bobbi Bales, Work First Supervisor, Forsyth County DSS .
6. FAMILYNET Initiative – Christine Howell, FAMILYNET Project Director, NCACDSS.
COMMITTEE SCOPE OF WORK
The EPC completed a Scope of Work for FY 2002-2003, including Short-Term Goals, Long Range Goals and Strategic Plan Priorities. Actions were taken and reference was made to the Scope of Work during the work of the Committee throughout the year.
A couple of the goals that will need to receive particular attention as we go into FY 2003-2004 are: (1) To maintain a proactive position with state counterparts to enhance collaboration around areas of mutual interest, such as: the TANF/Child Welfare Collaborative (FAMILYNET), the Multiple Response System, and others; (2) To advocate for programs and policies which will address the impact of poverty and promote economic self-sufficiency and family well-being; (3) To work to address Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and other needs of increasingly growing diverse populations in the State; and (4) To advocate for the development and implementation of programs which will enhance the personal financial literacy of low-income households in North Carolina.
DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES REORGANIZATION
With the recent reorganization of the Division of Social Services, the Economic Independence Section no longer exists. The programs under Economic Independence will be included within the new Family Support/Child Welfare Section, headed by JoAnn Lamb. The former Economic Independence staff have been placed in other duties in separate Sections. This change will provide both a challenge and an opportunity for Employment Programs. The challenge will be for State staff in the new Section to get up to speed on Work First reauthorization and policy development. The opportunity will be for greater collaboration at State and County levels between employment programs and child welfare.
WAIVERS
With the merging of Work First and Child Welfare at the State level, and the collaboration at the County level through FAMILYNET and other initiatives, the potential for North Carolina to prepare requests for waivers to the Federal TANF program are enhanced.
Co-Chairs: Wayne E. Black, Director
Yadkin County DSS
336-679-4210
Bobby Boyd, Director
Catawba County DSS
828-695-5603
